You may have heard of a doctorate or Ph.D. in biology but are probably unaware of what it means. A Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in biology is a terminal degree that is pursued typically after a master’s or a 4-yearbachelor’s degree in any undergraduate biology stream, for individuals that are interested in pursuing biological research as a career. In the past, a Ph.D. meant transitioning into a professorial or mainly academic career, however these days, a Ph.D. in biology can open doors to numerous careers in private industry, the non-profit sector and non-research roles in universities.
What does a Ph.D. entail?
A Ph.D. in biology requires you to come up with an original research idea known as a hypothesis. You then design experiments in collaboration with your supervising professor to investigate this hypothesis and perform them over the course of your Ph.D. In addition to this, you are expected to contribute to scientific literature by publishing your findings in scientific journals, learn to write research grants to get funding for research, keep yourself current with research findings in your field, present your research at scientific conferences in the form of posters or talks and take advanced classes in your field. You are typically paid a stipend during the Ph.D. that will support your living expenses and minimal tuition fees for any courses. You may also be expected to teach or assist in teaching, grade papers and mentor high school or undergraduate students for their research projects. Your academic and research process is monitored by a committee of professors during your PhD journey and at the final stage, you write up a comprehensive dissertation that summarizes existing literature related to your topic of research, your research findings and their significance to the field. Finally, you defend your research in the form of a talk in front of students and professors, where you are asked questions to test the depth of your knowledge. After a successful defense, you are awarded the Ph.D.!
How do you get into a Ph.D. program?
The requirements for entering a Ph.D. program may vary slightly based on the country where you plan to pursue the Ph.D. In general, most international programs require a CV, letters of recommendation from your professors, research experience and good grades in undergraduate and/or master’s programs. You are also required to demonstrate English proficiency by taking the GRE, TOEFL or IELTS exams. Along with all of these, a statement of interest that shows your enthusiasm for the Ph.D. program is taken into account by an admissions committee to shortlist candidates for interviews. If shortlisted, you are contacted for a virtual interview session where you’re interviewed by a panel of professors and eventually, if you clear this stage, you are invited to join the Ph.D. program.
What kinds of careers can a Ph.D. in biology get into?
A Ph.D. gives you a wide variety of transferable skills such as project management, mentoring, teaching, presenting research, critical thinking, analyzing data, writing and collaborating with other researchers for conducting research. In addition to pursuing a professorial role, here are some other career options:
- Careers in research and development: One can work as a research scientist in a pharmaceutical company, you can also work as a technical scientist for a biotechnology company that provides customer service to other scientists using their products or a field application scientist that demonstrates products, particularly laboratory instruments of a company to potential clients.
- Careers in writing: These include medical writing, scientific writing, composing learning material for training clinical professionals, research protocols, manuscripts, grants and clinical protocols for drug trials.
- Careers in clinical research: these include medical science liaison, clinical research associate, clinical trial managers that are involved in different phases of clinical trials for pharmaceutical drugs.
So, as you see, you do not need to box yourself with a Ph.D. in biology. With a growing list of careers to choose from, the world is truly your oyster!
Ketan Marballi is a neuroscientist who holds a Ph.D. in Cellular and Structural Biology from the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio. Over the last decade, his research has spanned the areas of different neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and alcohol abuse research. He is currently studying the molecular mechanisms of Rett syndrome – a neurodevelopmental disorder, at Syracuse University. Ketan holds a special interest in teaching, mentoring and career support and has mentored high school, undergraduate and medical resident trainees during his Ph.D. and postdoctoral training.